You’ve likely seen Monday Haircare’s delightfully pink bottles on your Instagram feed. The affordable vegan haircare brand was created by New Zealand native Jaimee Lupton, who combined her love of fancy products and background in luxury PR to create a salon quality line that wouldn’t break the bank.
In early 2020, Lupton launched the brand in Auckland, New Zealand where she was born and raised. “I grew up about an hour out of the city, in a rural area by the name of Kumeū,” she shares. “I left for Sydney in my early 20s but returned to the city a couple of years ago to launch Monday.” The wallet-friendly line consists of four shampoo and conditioner duos: Smooth, Sensitive, Repair and Volume. It’s also free of parabens and SLS, and uses recycled packaging for its bottles.
We asked Lupton—who also happens to be a major beauty enthusiast—to share all her favourite beauty spots in Auckland, New Zealand.
How would you describe the beauty scene in New Zealand?
Pretty pared-back. Our lifestyle is quite relaxed and down-to-earth, so I think our approach to beauty reflects this – just with a little bit of polish.
Are there any cool, new beauty spots that have opened up recently that you recommend people visit?
Skintopia has just opened in Auckland, which is a cool treatment and shopping concept that first opened in Wellington. Then there’s Hana, which does infrared saunas and red-light therapy and is a great place to spend time with friends or solo.
Favourite spa in New Zealand?
Spring Spa is definitely worth a visit. There’s one in Auckland and they also have Wellington and St Heliers, depending on where in NZ you’re visiting. I swear by a PRP facial, which I know can sound intense, but I do see results. I also aim to have a weekly massage to de-stress. I love the full body massage at Room 9—ask for Amelia.
What’s the one beauty treatment you have to try if you’re in New Zealand?
The Buccal Massage at Skinography! It’s like yoga for your face.
Favourite nail salon?
I see Sophie from Nails by Sophie and have for almost 10 years!
What are the best places to shop for beauty?
I love Mecca (because it stocks almost everything you could want) and Ines Store, which is online only but has a really thoughtful edit. It’s where I’ll stock up on Embryolisse, Joanna Vargas and The Ordinary.
MONDAY is all about salon-quality haircare at affordable prices. Do you have any favourite hair salons?
I’ve always had pretty healthy hair and never coloured it, but I see Cole at M11 for a regular trim, and Steven Marr is also great.
Go-to brow person?
Whenever I’m in Sydney I see Kristin Fisher from KFE; she’s a magician.
Favourite place to shop for fragrance?
Mecca is basically the Australian/New Zealand equivalent to Sephora but stocks a really incredible range of premium beauty brands. They have an amazing fragrance range with the likes of Le Labo, Byredo and Frédéric Malle. I wear Baccarat Rouge 540 by Maison Francis Kurkdjian.
Favourite neighbourhood(s) to shop for beauty products and why?
I wouldn’t say it’s specific to beauty, but Ponsonby is a waterfront area in central Auckland that you can easily spend a few days eating, drinking, and shopping your way around. My partner and I have an apartment there. If you’re looking for somewhere to stay, Hotel Britomart has just opened and is also hyper-sustainable.
What are some of your favourite local beauty brands?
New Zealand brand Emma Lewisham makes incredible products that really do work, and I love the Re.Form Serum from local company Re.Skin. As for Australian brands, Go-To makes some really good no-fuss products and Ultra Violette does incredible sunscreen that feels like serum when it goes on. We have the best sunscreen in this part of the world—our testing is much more stringent, so it tends to be really efficacious.
